[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 27 (Monday, February 10, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E160]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                  HONORING MASTER CAPTAIN WILLIAM WARD

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. CHARLIE CRIST

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, February 10, 2020

  Mr. CRIST. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Master 
Captain William Ward, of Florida, who passed away December 13, 2019 at 
the age of 57.
   William was licensed by the U.S. Coast Guard as a Merchant Marine 
Officer in 1991. He earned his bachelor's degree from the University of 
South Florida-College of Business in Accounting in 1994, and attained 
his Juris Doctor degree in 2013, from Barry University College of Law.
   Mr. Ward was the President and C.E.O. of Captains Finest Seafood 
from 1994 to 2009, served on the Gulf Fisherman's Association board of 
directors since 2004, was the Vice President of Seafood Harvesters of 
America, and a board member with the Gulf Coast Leadership Conference. 
In addition, Mr. Ward was a member director of Fish for America, USA, 
representing and educating the millions of seafood consumers in the 
United States. His leadership and efforts earned him the title of 
Florida Businessman of the Year in 2001 and in 2004 as the National 
Business Council Chairman.
   Mr. Ward advocated for sensible fisheries policy, including passage 
of the Port State Measures Agreement, which helped curb unregulated, 
unreported and illegal fishing. Additionally, Mr. Ward assisted in 
drafting legislation, advocating on its behalf, and consulting with 
state and federal governmental agencies in the development and 
implementation of protectionary natural resource regulations and rules. 
William also served as an expert consultant after the 2010 Deepwater 
Horizon oil spill. He worked extensively on the passage of the Restore 
Act which provided the primary source of funding for the economic and 
ecological recovery of the Gulf States.
   Mr. Ward represented the State of Florida as a two-time 
Gubernatorial Appointee to the Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission 
from 1999 to 2003. Further, William has served on numerous state and 
federal natural resources advisory panels, as well as two NOAA federal 
appointments serving on the advisory committees of the Gulf of Mexico 
Fisheries Management Council.
   Later in life, William worked as an attorney on several successfully 
litigated state and federal court cases during his time as managing 
partner of Ward Consulting Partners, LLC, and the William Ward Law 
Group, PLLC. He also testified as an expert witness on marine fisheries 
cases in federal court, one of which prevailed in the U.S. Supreme 
Court.
   During his career, William has consulted or worked with the National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Washington D.C., NOAA, 
Southeast Headquarters, NOAA, Southeast Fisheries Science Center, the 
Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission, the Florida Fish and Wildlife 
Research Institute, Florida Institute of Oceanography, University of 
South Florida-College of Marine Science, University of Miami-Rosenstiel 
School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Coast 
Guard Regional Coast Guard Headquarters in New Orleans, Miami, St. 
Petersburg, and Clearwater.
   William Ward was well respected and cherished on Capitol Hill, among 
his peers on the water, in the legal community and in the environmental 
community. He was a great friend and compassionate advocate who worked 
tirelessly to protect the people and waters he loved. Thanks to his 
contributions and advocacy, our coastal environment and fisheries are 
more sustainable than before.

                          ____________________